Being shirked by a lover, ghosted by a crush, leads to some of the most agonizing of emotions. And that’s exactly what Navvy has captured, poignantly and beautifully, on her new song If I Can’t Have You. With her pristine and effortless singing, the New Zealand alt pop artist gives us a vivid picture of heartbreak etched with subtle details. The engrossing ballad reminds me of how Alison Sudol’s A Fine Frenzy was once as exquisitely moving and intimately relatable, too. I Can’t Have You is a breakup letter, a closure letter, instead of the cliche love letter. Its crystalline beats and soft humming arrangement build, alongside Navvy’s voice, towards wary hope and healing absolution. If I can’t Have You is a gorgeous followup to Navvy’s 100 Thousand, out earlier this month. Take in its music video and the fiery simmering, more bold and moody electro-pop ballad below. After impressing with her debut single Subliminal several months ago, Navvy, aka Phoebe Lee Jasper, has proven this summer that she’s a New Zealand export well worth keeping close tabs on. You can also stream If I Can’t Have You on Spotify, here.
